Visit the 3D virtual exhibition at the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival online. Photo: BTC

To adapt to the new situation, many smart tourism models, including digital management in the tourism industry, have been implemented by accommodation and travel businesses. Ms. Hoa Pham, Senior Sales Manager of Wink Hotels Group, said, “the smart hotel model allows guests to check-in at any time and on a 24-hour basis, not having to check-out at 12 noon as before. Thanks to technology, membership card programs are also very versatile as guests can use services in the system, integrate benefits with partners of the accommodation, such as meal discounts, and call technological transport.” Technology applied to the travel experience brings a new style and this trend is becoming more and more popular.

Similarly, Ms. Do Nhu Thao, Head of Customer Care Department of the Saigontourist Travel Company, said, “the most obvious change is the way tourists buy tours. In the past, tourists often went to offices to listen to advice and learn about tour routes, but over time, experiences on digital platforms have become more popular, and even payments are prioritized without cash. These changes also make the way businesses operate differently.”

“In addition, according to businesses, the application of technology in tourism also helps them promote and attract users back at the lowest cost, create consumption habits in online transactions and prepare for safer return of tourism.”

In order to contribute to ensuring safe tourism in the context of the pandemic, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has also launched a safe Vietnam Tourism application to serve tourists. In particular, to serve as a pilot to welcome international tourists into Vietnam, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has actively built a system to certify vaccination records (at https://travelpass.tourism.vn/) and has also integrated this into the safe Vietnam Travel application. This system is built to be compatible with European Union standards, giving guests a unique QR code during the travel journey, storing information on vaccinations, tests and movements. As well as codes for changes of guests, the new system will help control and ensure safe tourism activities, which can now be traced and handled when situations arise.

Recovery platform

The tourism industry will be reopened when the pandemic situation in Ho Chi Minh City is under control. The Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2021, taking place from December 4 to 25 in an online form, is an effort to enhance digital transformation and smart tourism solutions, which will bring new vitality to destinations of tourism in the city and inspire tourism to local, domestic and international visitors. The website allows users to virtually interact and discover information about attractions, events and tourism promotion activities at home and abroad.

Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, said, “digital transformation will prove to be indispensable for all industries if they want to develop in the industrial era 4.0. Tourism - a green economy is no exception. If you want to transform strongly, you must apply technology in your activities. Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry is transforming digitally and actively participating in the 4th Industrial Revolution, with the goal of forming a smart tourism ecosystem that connects entities from tourists, business service providers and State management agencies.”

Truong Thi Kim Cuc, Deputy Director in charge of Vietsovpetro Resort said, “online travel is a new medium in the tourism industry, in line with the trend of finding online experiences before selecting a destination. The Vietsovpetro Resort is located in Ho Tram, of the Binh Chau tourist cluster, and has a romantic sea forest and is suitable for events like MICE tourism, picnic activities, teambuilding and ecology-related events.”

Nguyen Minh Man, Communications Director of TST Tourist, said “digital transformation to match the trend of limiting contact in transactions has pushed all businesses to move and accelerate faster. In the above context, TST Tourist has been applying technology in business management, human resource management and combining technology partners to deploy e-commerce, payment and customer care channels online, which not only expands opportunities to approach, capture and sell products in line with customer demand trends but also better care and retains customers.”

At the Online Tourism Festival, the number of visitors interacting and viewing online information on the weekend (December 4, 5, 2021) reached an average of about 1,000 per day. This number is not high, but it also shows the interest of tourists in events and business activities in the context of ensuring safety against pandemics and connecting trade. 2021 and 2022 are the golden times for businesses to focus on converting from traditional sales methods to technology. However, besides the support from the technology platform, the human factor is still an important foundation to create the distinctive features of each brand, especially for the service industry.